154* ON SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY. 



fishes, and forming the orders Branchiosteges and Chon- 

 dropteriges ; but this arrangement, although natural, 

 was too philosophic for general use. Linnaeus perceived 

 this; and, therefore, intent upon his primary object of 

 producing a simple and definite artificial arrangement, 

 he had recourse to the position of the ventral fins as the 

 basis of his primary divisions : by attention to which, 

 every one, at the first glance, could determine where he 

 was to search for a particular species. 



(207.) The genera composing these orders will now 

 be mentioned : very few of them have yet received En- 

 glish names. 



PISCES. 



I. APODAL FISHES. Having no ventral fins. 

 Muraena. Eel. Aperture of the gills on the side of the 



thorax. Order APODES Sw. 

 Gymnotus. Naked-back. Dorsal fin none. 

 Trichiurus. Caudal fin none ; body ensiform. 

 Anarhichas. Wolf-Jish. Teeth rounded. 

 Ammodytes. Sand-lance. Head narrower than the body. 

 Ophidium. Body ensiform. 

 Xiphias. Sword-fish. Snout ensiform. 

 Stromateus. Stromat. Body oval, scaly ; breast simple. 



II. JUGULAR FISHES. Ventral fins before the pectoral. 

 Callyonimus. Aperture of the gills on the nape. 

 Uranoscopus. Star-gazer. Head large, rough, depressed. 

 Trachinus. Vent near the breast. 



Gadus. Cod. Pectoral fins tapering to a point. 

 Blennius. JBlenny. Ventral fins of two united rays. 



III. THORACIC FISHES. Ventral fins under the pectoral. 

 -Cepola. Ribbon-fish. Body ensiform, naked. 



Echineis. Reniora, or Pilot. Crown flat, transversely furrowed. 

 Coryphaena. Dolphin. Head sloping suddenly downwards. 

 Gobius. Goby. Ventral fins united into an oval fin. 

 Cottus. Bull-head. Head broader than the body. 

 Scorpaena. Scorpion-fish. Head armed with prickles. 

 Zeus. Silver-fish. Upper lip arched by a transverse mem- 

 brane. 



Pleuronectes. Flatfish. Eyes both on one side of the head. 

 Chaetodon. Sand-fish. Teeth setaceous, flexile, crowded. 

 Sparus. GUthead. Teeth strong, obtuse ; lip double. 

 Labrus. Labbe. Dorsal rays, with a slender skin beyond. 



